If you want to create a covered patio or porch, a roof extension is one interesting option to consider. An extended roof will be a part of your house. So if you’re building a new home or remodeling an existing one, you can mortgage your new roof out. Including the cost of your roof addition in your home equity loan allows you to pay it off over time, saving you money in the meantime. Different patio roof extension ideas correspond to different types of roofs that are applicable to residential homes. Let’s take a look at what design ideas are available so you can decide which style is best for your home’s architecture and your budget.
22 IDEAS
1. Extend Off The Rake Of A Gable Roof
Gable roofs are one of the most common roof styles you’ll see, especially on single-story homes. A gable roof has two sides that slope down from the center of the home. The two sides of the house that run perpendicular to the roof slope have triangles at the top which extend to meet the roof. The two flat sides with triangles at the top are called gables. You can easily extend one side of a gable roof at the rake to create a covered patio or porch.
This modern patio roof extension is built off of the existing gable roof of the home. You can simply extend the roof from the existing pitch. Doing this creates what is known as an abutment between the existing roof and the new, extended part of the roof.
Here they’ve used dark wood flooring on the ceiling which matches the window trim. Mixing neutral contrasting colors like black and white is essential to creating a modern look. The recessed lighting in the roof helps brighten the space along with light floors. Adding a large fan in the center will help cool the space on warm summer days.
This country-style house has a patio roof extension in the middle, creating a covered porch. The ornate columns used to support the roof match the traditional style of the home perfectly. The skylights brighten the porch and allow more light into the home as well.
They’ve painted the ceiling blue which is a Southern tradition started by the Gullah/Geechee people in South Carolina. It is believed to bring good luck to the home and keep out evil spirits.
This gable roof extension has a more industrial vibe due to the mixture of wood tones and black framing. This is a perfect example of an extension design with a small porch. They’ve kept the framing and posts clean and simple which is budget-friendly. They’ve added texture and style with the ornate hanging lights and the chevron pattern on the railing.
2. Expand Gable Roofs In The Direction Of The Ridge
Extending a gable roof in the direction of the ridge will give you a larger covered porch area. It will also make the space feel larger because the height of the ceiling makes it feel more open. This idea works great with a high-pitched ranch house design.
They have seamlessly tied the full gable extension into the roofline of the house, resulting in a cohesive design that blends in with the existing roof. This creates a wonderful flow from the interior to the exterior of the home for the perfect indoor-outdoor living experience.
3. Add A Lean-to Roof Extension In A Corner
A Lean-to roof is one of the most affordable options when it comes to roof extensions for patios. They are created by adding a single-sloped roof to the exterior wall of the house rather than tying it to the existing roof. By adding them to a corner of a house you are left with only two open sides. This can provide some extra privacy and create more shade.
Here they’ve added a lean-to style roof on a two-story house to create a covered front porch. They’ve added a wood plant ceiling which adds texture to the design and painted it white to brighten up the space. They’ve made the columns look high-end by adding trim work that complements the window and door framing, and stonework at the bottom that ties in with the color of the house siding.
These homeowners have built a wide lean-to roof extension allowing them to add both an interior sunroom addition and a covered porch to the backyard. They’ve kept the columns and porch roof simple which matches with the design of the house and makes the addition more budget-friendly.
This flat roof extension over the deck creates a large covered area for entertaining guests. Building a large extension like this allows space for both a dining area and an outdoor living room. It has several can lights in the ceiling which will provide ample lighting after the sun sets.
4. Use Cantilevered Roof Extensions For A Modern Look
A Cantilevered roof extends from the main structure and has no supporting posts. This creates a roof that appears to be floating. Cantilevered roofs look fantastic when added to homes with modern or mid-century modern architecture.
This flat cantilevered roof fits this home and poolside deck stunningly. You wouldn’t want a roof extension with columns blocking the views from the full glass walls. The sleek look of this roof fits the style of the home and deck perfectly. I love how they’ve incorporated some landscaping under the roofline with a small patch of grass and a tree growing through the roof.
5. Roof Extensions Between Walls Create Inset Porches and Privacy
An inset porch is created when a roof covers a patio located between two walls of the home. This leaves just one side of the patio open, creating more privacy on your patio. It can also help to block out wind, and heavy rain, and create more shade on your back porch. If you want to create an inset porch or patio, but your home isn’t configured correctly for it, you have two options.
You can either remove part of one side wall and push it back to create the inset space for your patio. You can also create a corner inset patio by removing part of the walls at the corner of a house.
This partially inset patio was created by pushing back the exterior wall about 5 feet. The roof was also extended so that the covered part of the patio extends beyond the inset part. The way they’ve utilized the extra two walls created by the inset is genius. On one side, they’ve added another door to create a second access point to the porch. On the other side, they’ve hung a television.
Here’s what a corner roof extension looks like after removing two walls to create an inset porch. This creates an ideal space to get out of the sun next to the pool. They’ve also added an outdoor kitchen for hosting the ultimate barbeque.
6. Extending A Roof To Create A Veranda
Extending a roof in multiple directions will allow you to create a veranda or wraparound porch. If your existing roof rake is tall enough, you can simply extend the roof on multiple sides from the existing pitch. If the existing rake isn’t tall enough to extend along the current pitch, you can create a bonnet roof extension instead.
The bonnet roof will extend from the current rake but doesn’t follow the existing pitch. The bonnet will have a slight almost flat slope, allowing the roof to extend out over a porch while still providing enough ceiling height beneath it.
Bonnet-style roofs are popular in warmer areas of the country and in the tropics. They provide ample shade in these regions and are able to withstand tropical storm-force winds well. This country-style home has added a roof extension surround leaving the beams exposed to give the ceiling a rustic look. They have basically created a covered porch surround which will allow them to have a shady spot to enjoy no matter what time of day it is.
7. Roof Extensions With Large Skylights Resemble Courtyards
A courtyard is a type of patio that has an open sky view and is partially or completely surrounded by walls. The downside to a courtyard is it doesn’t have a roof which prevents you from enjoying it when it’s raining. By adding a large skylight in your roof extension, you can create a patio that resembles a courtyard without worrying about the weather keeping you inside.
These homeowners have created a courtyard-style patio by adding a roof extension over the breezeway between two structures. They’ve added a fireplace and heaters in the ceiling to keep the space cozy and warm during winter. The large skylight in the middle adds light to the space during the day and makes it function more like a courtyard.
8. Combine Multiple Roof Extension Styles That Compliment Your Home
When adding a roof extension, you want to keep the overall look of your home in mind. The extension should complement the existing roof lines. This will ensure that the entire roof looks original to the home and doesn’t decrease its curb appeal.
For this backyard patio roof extension, they’ve used both a gable roof and a flatter lean-to roof to complement the existing structure. The extension mirrors the second-floor gable roof and walkout deck perfectly. This makes it look like it is part of the original architecture rather than an addition.
9. Separate Gable Roofs Create a Large Open Patio Space
Another backyard roof extension idea is to add a completely separate gable roof, attached to the house on the pitched side. This creates a large patio area that’s nice and open with its three unwalled sides and high ceilings.
This double roof extension was used to create a huge outdoor living space. They’ve extended the original roof out to create an inset patio area with a full outdoor kitchen. Then they added a separate gable roof to cover the large dining area in front of the outdoor kitchen. I love how they used glass on the gable roof to maximize sunlight in the space. The vines growing over the roof provide shade and make the patio look like a tropical oasis.
This separate gable roof is attached directly to the house’s original roof. The large sliding door is great for indoor-outdoor living on this patio. Using a frosted, corrugated roof provides some protection from the sun but doesn’t block the light from shining through the home’s windows. Natural light inside a home can often be blocked with a roof extension but not with this cool design.
10. Most Affordable Ways To Build Patio Roof Extensions
There are certain ways to go about adding a patio roof extension that can make it more affordable. The materials you use or the type of roof you build can make it a more cost-efficient project overall.
One cheaper design idea is to extend an existing pitch with a separate structure covered with plexiglass. Some people would call it an awning. You’ll save money by extending off the existing pitch because the extension doesn’t disturb the existing roof. Using a plexiglass roof is much more affordable than installing a shingle roof over the extension.
A lean-to roof is the most affordable extension option because it can be built directly off an existing wall of a two-story home. Here they’ve left all three sides of the porch open which also reduces the overall cost of the project.
The smaller the size of the extension is, the more affordable it will be. These homeowners have extended a roof over a small corner patio that still provides room for a mini seating area. They still get the benefits of enjoying a covered porch rain or shine without a huge price tag.
11. More Ideas and Tips
When creating your roof extension, consider adding extra features to your newly covered patio to maximize its uses.
The clean lines and high ceiling of this design give it a modern style. They’ve maximized the utility of the space by adding an outdoor kitchen, dining area, and living room. In the corner, they’ve even added a storage closet which is ideal for keeping outdoor items hidden while also being easily accessible when needed.
This backyard roof extension has it all. The louvered roof though expensive gives you a ton of versatility on your new covered patio. The slats can be left open to allow sunlight in, angled to reduce heat in the summer, or completely closed to keep out rain when needed. They’ve also installed a full surround of sliding glass walls which turns this into a four seasons sunroom.
This outdoor kitchen and dining space looks exactly like what you’d expect inside a home. It has open shelving to store dishes and cookware and even a full-sized fridge. You could cook an entire meal in this space without needing to go inside once. I appreciate that they didn’t cover up the existing brick wall of the home. It enhances the appearance of an outdoor room, adding texture and interest to the entire design.
If you’re adding a patio roof extension, consider adding a full glass wall to the home or accordion doors. The glass will create an illusion of more space as the indoor and outdoor spaces will seamlessly flow into one another. A glass wall was an obvious choice for this patio space since the deck under the roof overlooks the lake. All of the glass ensures you have clear sightlines to enjoy the lake view.
This deck roof extension includes ceiling lights for nighttime enjoyment and built-in heaters to keep you warm during the winter. They also added a fireplace to the space which will add to the nighttime ambiance in the space. They’ve also used a modern industrial black metal and glass railing for safety on this second-story deck.
